See current thread:
OP @TruscumTeen wrote:
"I want to start this off by saying that I am transsexual, and that I am in no way intending to offend people - I merely wish to explain why it is extremely important to acknowledge this fact.
For a long time now I have been reading threads from this talk topic. I used to be somewhat of a very politically correct SJW, however I had my eyes opened by these threads (thank you all for that, by the way).
I find it completely and utterly absurd that stating biological facts is now considered "transphobic", and that people actually accept the self-identification of people declaring themselves as trans. I am extremely aware that I am biologically female, and that I always will be. I strongly, strongly disagree with self-identification, and with the idea that transgenderism is not the result of a mental illness.
So, firstly, a definition:
Mental illness = a condition which causes serious disorder in a person's behaviour or thinking.
Now, in the title I put the word "gender" in quotations. This is because transsexuals like myself experience SEX dysphoria - not dysphoria of a social construct.
So, SEX dysphoria causes extreme discomfort and distress. It can lead to other mental illnesses such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety and suicidality. It results in people wanting to mutilate their own bodies. SEX dysphoria literally fits the definition of a mental illness.
Just a quick "rant": We all find it atrocious when people say things like "oh, I'm so OCD"; "you are skinny, so obviously are anorexic", or when people self-diagnose themselves with mental illnesses. So why do people find it acceptable in this case? I see it all the time: "I want short hair, so I'm gender dysphoric"; "I love wearing make up - I must have gender dysphoria". It totally makes a mockery of people who actually have SEX dysphoria, who face a continous struggle against themselves.
Now on to why this fact is important:
If we declasssify SEX dysphoria as a mental illness, we face the inevitability of widespread self-identification. There are so many problems with this (I'll just mention a few):
As many of you will know, there have been documented cases where males self-identify as women and go on to abuse females in supposedly "safe spaces". None of these abusers will have dysphoria, yet are considered "trans" - disagree and you are a bigot.
Males can self-identify as women and threaten lesbians into sleeping with them. This is downright disgusting, and is a real problem.
Declasssifying it will mean removing the treatments (hormones, surgery) from the NHS, having a disastrous, detrimental affect on transsexuals - such as myself -who experience debilitating SEX dysphoria. We cannot afford tens of thousands of pounds in order to alleviate the symptoms of our mental illness. This will lead to a huge increase in transsexual suicides (REAL suicides, not the debunked, skewed current claims), which will be hidden and overlooked due to shouts of a "progressive society" from transactivists and transtrenders.
This is just a relatively brief overview of why acknowledging dysphoria as a mental illness is important. I apologise for the rambling, inarticulate and probably incoherent nature of my post. I am more than happy to answer questions/debate if that is what people wish (though probably tomorrow as I am tired). I just wanted to vocalise my views, as there is a minority of us genuine transsexuals in the "community" who are constantly berated and insulted for stating facts.
Also, to every woman posting in Feminism Chat - I agree with you wholeheartedly and stand with you."
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3301971-Gender-Dysphoria-Is-A-Mental-Illness